Ah Spink, Our Own Beat Writer

As submitted by Rick Spink to the Carroll County Times. He of course is our player/stat keeper/beat writer for both the WildCats in PA and the Elite Fastners at Freedom.

The WildCats recently faced off against nemesis New Park in the York County Mens Softball League in the wake of a four game winning streak, but came up just short of victory.

Craig Schubert got the 'Cats off to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, slamming a home run over the leftfield fence. Starting pitcher Allen "Monk" Rogers stifled the rival ball club until the third frame, when New Park put together three runs. New Park took a 7-4 lead in the top of the fifth as the WildCats changed hurlers. However in this seesaw struggle involving two strong hitting lineups, the 'Cats bounced back with a seven run outburst in the sixth inning, highlighted by Herbie Hewlett's two-RBI triple, then capped by a bases clearing double to center by Brian Timchula. Unfortunately their foes replied immediately by scoring five times in their half of the seventh and held on for a 12-11 win.

The WildCats (4-2) now trail New Park (4-1) by 1/2 game in the standings. In another exciting contest, the local Marylanders defeated Corbett's Construction 3-2 in extra innings, scratching out a tally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the torrid-batting Don Osborne crossed the plate for the finish. Don leads the team with an exceptional .722 average. Buddy Widerman chucked the last four innings in shutout relief, striking out the side in the seventh.

Other fence-clearing dingers at the "Chicken Coop" field in New Freedom have come in games earlier this season off the potent bats of Dave Sufcinski and Craig's brother Phil Schubert, both contributing to "the win column".

The WildCats have strengthened their depth by recruiting three talented young "kittens", including Timchula, from the Freedom District Optimist Adult Fast Pitch League. This Sykesville loop is beginning its 2006 regular season on Tuesday, May 23rd. Game times are 7:30 pm in Freedom Park.

So that's what is happening with softball, let me tell you a little about football.

My wrist hurts. Somehow, during what was only a little practice involving a half a dozen players on Mother's Day, I managed to akwardly land on my wrist. Hard. The next day it was swollen, and right now it is still sore. Stupid clumsy me.

Besides the injury (which I probably aggravated more by playing Wednesday night and swinging the bat with it) I have not done much more in football. There has not yet been a game, and there will not be a game this week either. Instead there will be another practice Sunday morning with, hopefully, the entire team. Perhaps even an intersquad scrimmage?

Maybe I can stay off my wrist this time, and, if all goes as planned, catch the ball.